RED SOX NOTEBOOK: E-Rod making progress

Sunday

BOSTON — Eduardo Rodriguez appears to be making significant strides in his bid to return from the disabled list and help the Red Sox down the stretch.

The left-hander threw off the mound at Fenway Park prior to Sunday’s series finale with the Yankees. Rodriguez (right ankle) faced teammate Rafael Devers, who stood in the batter’s box while the pitcher fired in fastball, cut-fastballs, sliders and changeups. Rodriguez estimated he threw 30 pitches during the afternoon session, his most significant action since suffering his injury in a July 14 start against the Blue Jays.

“My ankle is really good,” Rodriguez said. “Feels great. It was fine throwing tonight. That was a test today on the main diamond and everything, and it feels really good.”

“That was impressive, honestly,” Boston manager Alex Cora said. “He threw a bullpen and that was good to see.”

Rodriguez was in the midst of a 19-inning scoreless string when he turned the ankle covering first base on an infield grounder. He’s been in and out of a walking boot and receiving regular treatment of the last three weeks, and Boston moved at the trade deadline for Nathan Eovaldi to bolster the rotation. Rodriguez would give the Red Sox another power arm to deploy as a starter or in a relief role should they continue on their expected path toward October’s postseason.

“That’s what I want — to be available to come back as a starter,” Rodriguez said. “But if they put me in the bullpen or wherever they put me, I’ve got to go out there and pitch.”

Despite recent results, Boston is patching things together a bit at this point. Chris Sale (left shoulder inflammation) isn’t among the three listed starters this week in Toronto, with Drew Pomeranz, Brian Johnson and Rick Porcello scheduled the take the ball Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. This will mark a second turn missed by Sale since being scratched ahead of Thursday’s opening game with New York.

“Chris is supposed to play catch today, so we’ll go from there,” Cora said. “I was actually in a meeting for a long time there, so I haven’t talked to too many people today. We’ll see where he’s at.”

Injury update: Boston is scheduled to depart late Sunday night for the first leg of a three-city road trip, and the traveling party will be a bit short of full capacity.

Devers and Ian Kinsler will both stay behind to rehab their respective left hamstring strains. Blake Swihart (right hamstring strain) and Steven Wright (left knee inflammation) will also be out of action at least through the series with the Blue Jays. Devers went through a full baseball workout on Sunday and could begin a brief assignment at Class-A Lowell beginning on Monday night.

Kinsler and Swihart are both expected to rejoin the Red Sox next weekend in Baltimore, with Cora hopeful their respective time on the disabled list lasts the minimum 10 days. Wright still hasn’t resumed his throwing program and has been sidelined since June 23.

Checking the lineup: Steve Pearce was back in the lineup as the designated hitter Sunday night after cracking four home runs through the first two games of the series with the Yankees. J.D. Martinez went to right field, Mookie Betts moved to center and Jackie Bradley Jr. was given the day off with three games upcoming on the artificial surface at Rogers Centre. Pearce entered 5 for 15 with two career homers against New York starter Masahiro Tanaka.

“It’s not that he’s got five hits, but he’s done some damage against him,” Cora said. “Hopefully, a few hanging changeups and he hits it in the air again.”

Pearce and Mitch Moreland nailed first-inning, two-run homers on back-to-back days Friday and Saturday. Boston went on to win each game by a count of 4-1 and improved to 53-7 this season when scoring first.

“We’ve been making the routine plays, and that’s what you have to do when you get the lead,” Cora said Saturday. “Don’t give them more than 27 outs.

“We’ve been good as far as not walking people. It seems like we’ve been ahead a lot in counts. It’s 0-1, 0-2 — that’s a tough at-bat when you’re falling behind."

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